This new Muhle safety razor model was introduced like 5 months ago,and now I have the chance to try and test one.I did ordered it with the new open comb head,which is one of the most effective ever when cutting beard hair,but also has its "tricks" that you have to learn first,unless that you dont want to cut or nick yourself to often.

The razor,as the regular R89/41,is really well made,with an outstanding finish and classy knurling.Its a couple cm longer than the regulars R41/89 and also almost 15 g heavier,being 80g in weight.

If the regular R41/89 are a pleasure to hold while shaving,this is even more,and if you have medium or big hands,you wont have a problem holding it.Thats something that Muhle have improved upon request of people who liked the regular R41/89,but had big hands and wanted a longer handle.

The razor is truly one of those beauties that you not only enjoy when its comes to shaving,but also looking at it when its placing on your bathroom counter.

It has a pretty good balance,I would say that slightly better than the regular R 41/89,and the weight is mostly on the upper part of it (head),which allows us not using to much pressure against the skin when shaving,something that if you are using the open comb head (R 41) you would appreciate.

Here a couple pics with another beautiful razor,the Edwin Jagger Chatsworth Lined Chrome...hard to choose which one is more gorgeous :

And here a pic comparing it with the R 101,which has the same length handle than the R89/41 regular and the R 106/R 107 :

So,we know that we put an closed comb head on the handle we would have a R 89 Grande,and if we put a open comb head,would have a R 41 Grande Safety razor.

We have discussed the great closed comb head that Muhle razors have,but what about this new open comb head?Is that aggressive and beard killer as many people have reported?

Well,lets compare heads (open vs close comb) :

In the previous pic,you can see the new Muhle R 101 with a closed comb head and the Edwin Jagger with a open comb head.As you can see,the blade on the EJ is really bend,while on the Muhle is almost straight.That should gives us a clue of what we have on our hands...

Here is another pic (thanks JR for the pic) of the new open comb head :

As you can imagine,this razor is not as "soft" as the closed comb one,or maybe it is or could be....

Yes,it could be less aggressive if we know how to use it.If we use it with the same cut angle that we would use with, a regular close comb razor,well,you are gonna have problems...but,if we change the cutting angle to one that is more parallel to the skin,we are gonna have one of the most effective shaving razors out there,with the slant.But yes,there is a learning curve in how to use this razor properly,and maybe,the first shaves with it, aren't gonna be as pleasant as we would like,but I guess the same happens when people are learning to use a shavette or a straight razor.

This close comb head,actually,behaves more like a shavette than a regular safety razor,so you know how effective could it be,but also how aggressive too,if you don't use it on the right way.So remember,more parallel to the skin than with a regular safety razor,no pressure at all,and patience...the razor would reward you with great shaves in two full passes!

If you have a really coarse,thick beard,or just wanna reduce the number of razor passes during shaving,this razor could be the ones for you.

I have been asked which razor is more aggressive,if the new Muhle or the Merkur Slant.Well,it depends how good or bad you use it,but Ill rather get this razor than the slant.Once I got it right,this razor provides me excellent shaves,as well as its better finish it than the Merkur (at least,for my taste and like).

Muhle are truly innovating,not only with the new synthetic fibres brushes,but also with these new open comb razors.I say it once again,if you get it right,this safety razor could be great,but if not,prepare to suffer,but good things comes after some learning,I have been told in the past.

I had a really rough shave this morning with the regular sized R41 paired with an Ikon handle. I was getting great shaves with my Weber, Ikon, Tradere, but this thing just chewed me up today. It may be possible I got a bad blade.

(06-01-2012, 12:44 PM)somebody Wrote: I had a really rough shave this morning with the regular sized R41 paired with an Ikon handle. I was getting great shaves with my Weber, Ikon, Tradere, but this thing just chewed me up today. It may be possible I got a bad blade.

No, I think it has a reputation for chewing a lot of people up. I have one, and when I am feeling particularly "on my game" I give it a whirl. It's as close a parer as they come, but unforgiving of lapses of technique or attention.

I have this razor and it definitely can be a beast. It requires total respect and all of my concentration. As mentioned, if it's on, it's on and you can go from three to two passes with similar results.

I also have a 39C Sledgehammer Slant and consider it MUCH milder than this razor. I can slack a bit with the Slant and not get bitten. It has some forgiveness for me but not so the R41 Grande.
I have to be feeling bold and basically not have shaved for a few days when I pick up the R41 but I have to say that I never want to be without it in my arsenal.

I have the regular R41 and thought the handle was too large, when I see this thing I wonder just how much larger it can be.

Also, while on the topic of the handle, have you noticed how thin the metal sounds? I tapped mine with my fingernail and it sounded like pot metal. I personally hate the handle, the knurling is useless, it's thin, very long for a fat handle and just cheap feeling.

The shave head design is very poor, IMHO. The blade is held so far from the edge that I get a lot of blade flex; which leads to tugging and/or weepers. Blade flex isn't good for prolonging the life of a blade either. I have coarse thick hair and I would only recommend someone with light hair to use it simply from all of the hair grabbing it does.

Obviously I'm no fan of the R41. A close comfortable shave isn't worth all of the precautions (and time) you need to take to use it. If I'm planning on a slow and deliberate shave, I'm using my straight. If I want a close fast comfortable shave, I'm grabbing anything but the Muhle.

BTW, mine has been for sale for nearly a year. Maybe I should change my sales pitch. LOL

These Muhle heads fill in a void in the safety razor market that wasn't being addressed by any non-adjustable safety. Some people want a really aggressive razor and this razor is designed for them.

It's not going to fit everyone's requirements, of course. That's why it's nice to have the choice we have in razors.

My experience with the razor was similar to a lot of other guys - it is great when used well, but it is unforgiving of lapses in concentration. I didn't like the feel of the blade on my face, so I sold mine, but I could get a good shave from it.

Other razors were just more of a pleasure to use for me, and I usually shave with straights so the R41 didn't really fill a need for me.

Teiste, very! good overview of a razor I like, but at the same time have total and utter respect for while wielding in anger (more so than any of the other razors I own).

Personally I find the R41 is an excellent first pass razor, really mows down the whiskers, then 2nd and 3rd pass with something a little milder, or makes a very good choice when tackling 2 to 3 days worth of beard growth...

I have the Muhle 102 Razor which has the same head as the New R41. I have discovered for me that I have better control of the angle of the blade by shaving ATG with an upward stroke. I now start my shave at the bottom of my neck where my beard line ends and I pull the razor upwards towards my cheek bone. I do this for the entire shaving area of my face except for my upper lip which I use my Gillette Tech. One pass is all that I need when I use the upward stroke and I get a close comfortable shave without any irritation or weepers. When I use the WTG, and XTG I usually don't get as close a shave nor as comfortable. I will say that after a month with the very aggressive Muhle Razor, my Gillette Tech is now just a fast and easy shave even with a feather blade. I don't even worry about irritation or weepers with it now.

(06-02-2012, 07:24 AM)mctmatt Wrote: I have the Muhle 102 Razor which has the same head as the New R41. I have discovered for me that I have better control of the angle of the blade by shaving ATG with an upward stroke. I now start my shave at the bottom of my neck where by beard line ends and I pull the razor upwards towards my cheek bone. I do this for the entire shaving area of my face except for my upper lip which I use my Gillette Tech. One pass is all that I need when I use the upward stroke and I get a close comfortable shave without any irritation or weepers. When I use the WTG, and XTG I usually don't get as close a shave nor as comfortable. I will say that after a month with the very aggressive Muhle Razor, my Gillette Tech is now just a fast and easy shave even with a feather blade. I don't even worry about irritation or weepers with it now.

thanks for sharing your experience. I find it encouraging that new tools often give a breakthrough on efficiency with older tools.

Beautiful pictures Teiste. I bought an R41 from Leisureguy because he couldn't handle it. After two weeks I sold it to another member because I couldn't handle it. The guy I sold it to turned around and sold it. After that I lost track of the razor. This is got to tell you something. The only plus side for me was shaving ATG. For some reason I had no problem and no cuts. Buts that is not the way I want to shave exclusively. My opinion is this is the most bought and sold razor out there.